Martin Vincentz wins AfD NRW power struggle at Marl party conference

At the North‑Rhine Westphalia (NRW) AfD party conference in Marl, state party leader Martin Vincentz secured a decisive victory in the internal power struggle. The congress allocated 82 positions on the state list for the 2027 Landtag election, with the first 30 seats considered winnable. Vincentz placed himself at the top of the list and filled most of the leading spots with his supporters.

Around 500 delegates were eligible to vote; about 350 attended the final day. A rival faction aligned with federal AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla left the hall in protest, calling the event a “party of shame.” Their opposition had tried to block the proceedings by nominating over 90 candidates for list position 22, a tactic that delayed the agenda. The federal leadership criticised alleged procedural irregularities and demanded a restart of the list formation, but Vincentz maintained that the list is legally sound. The federal board has since sought an injunction to prevent interference, while local protestors also demonstrated outside the venue. The final status of the list remains uncertain, pending possible legal and party‑internal decisions.